Skip to Main Content

The Graduate Health & Life Sciences Research Library at Georgetown University Medical Center

Worksheet Answer Key — Action-reaction And Momentum Conservation

Welcome to the Free Health Resources Research guide. The focus of this guide is international resources that are available freely to you from other continents and countries

Worksheet Answer Key — Action-reaction And Momentum Conservation

Momentum: [ (0.5)(4) + 0 = 0 + (0.5) v_2' \quad \Rightarrow \quad 2 = 0.5 v_2' \quad \Rightarrow \quad v_2' = 4,\textm/s ] Kinetic energy is also conserved (equal masses swap velocities in 1D elastic collisions). Type 5: True/False or Conceptual Sample statements & answers:

[ m_1 v_1 + m_2 v_2 = (m_1 + m_2) v_f ] [ (2)(3) + (1)(0) = (3) v_f \quad \Rightarrow \quad 6 = 3 v_f \quad \Rightarrow \quad v_f = 2,\textm/s ] Momentum: [ (0

Using momentum conservation (initial total = 0): [ m_r v_r + m_b v_b = 0 \quad \Rightarrow \quad v_r = -\fracm_b v_bm_r ] [ v_r = -\frac(0.010,\textkg)(300,\textm/s)4.0,\textkg = -0.75,\textm/s ] Magnitude: 0.75 m/s opposite bullet’s direction. Mass doubles, so speed halves

Total momentum before = total after. Mass doubles, so speed halves. Type 4: Elastic Collision (Billiard balls) Example Question: A 0.5 kg ball moving at 4 m/s hits a stationary 0.5 kg ball head-on. After collision, the first ball stops. Find the second ball’s speed. Find the second ball’s speed

Forgetting the negative sign (direction matters for vector nature of momentum). Type 3: Inelastic Collision (Objects stick together) Example Question: A 2 kg cart moving at 3 m/s hits a stationary 1 kg cart and they stick together. Find final speed.